October brings to mind images of falling leaves, sweaters, football and … the housing lottery? In yet another attempt to thwart inevitable housing crises, the Department of Student Housing has moved housing selection for next academic year from February 2005 to October 2004, to better anticipate the number of students seeking on-campus housing.
Historically, the housing selection process has ended in disaster. In Feb. 2000, and then again in Nov. 2002, the University underestimated the demand for on-campus housing by upperclassmen, forcing many rising juniors and seniors into finding off-campus housing.
This year, the housing department finds itself in a completely different position-a dearth of demand for on-campus housing and thus nearly 200 empty beds. The University, in desperation, has offered double-occupancy rooms as singles in Village C and Darnall.
Additionally, rising sophomores who won apartments in the lottery were offered singles in Darnall or Village C, as well as season tickets for the 2004-2005 men’s basketball season, if they gave up their apartments to seniors.
Predictably, no sophomores offered to give up their apartments.
According to Vice President of University Facilities and Student Housing Karen Frank, “upperclass students want to know if they will have housing on campus for the following year as well as what the housing options will be. On the other hand, rising sophomores feel that they need a little more time to get to know classmates and form housing groups.”
Frank said that this year’s housing process, which was determined through the help of summer focus groups, will be conducted in two phases.
Rising juniors and seniors will apply for on-campus housing in the October and will be awarded housing on the basis of how many apply. Sophomores will apply in the Spring and new students will be awarded housing in the summer.
Although this seems like a plausible solution, students should still be wary.
In 2003, students on the Housing Advisory Board warned that demand for housing would exceed the number of rooms provided by the Southwest Quad. Rather than heed this advice, the housing department promised beds that didn’t exist.
Students will want to play it safe and will enter the lottery regardless of whether they plan to go abroad or live off-campus. This process will skew the numbers, causing the demand for on-campus housing to seem higher than it really is.
Be optimistic, but be warned-it can’t be this easy to solve the housing problem.
